Thanks for taking the time to read this! The first chapter is more a prelude to the actual first chapter (which will be posted at the same time!). This is my first story so any suggestions are greatly appreciated. I suppose I can share a little bit about my writing. I try to write at least an hour a day, at least with my current job. That means I can probably get a chapter out every other week or so at the current pace. I will be posting links to spotify playlist for each character that uses an SDAT.
This story is something I have thought about for a while. It will be pulling elements from NGE, rebuilds as well as the manga. This story is going to be nowhere close to cannon, Shinji is going to be a little braver (thanks to the power of plot and time jumps), Rei is no longer a clone of his mother (Gendo's motive for this will be explained, I promise), a new pilot from America will be introduced and form a bond with Shinji that will forever change how he views the world.
All comments and suggestions are welcome so don't be shy about reviews!
Shinji's playlist: Track 1: Johann Sebastian Bach "Unoccupied Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major"
Track 2: Pachelbel "Canon and Gigue in D Major for 3 Violins and Continuo
Another unfamiliar ceiling. Shinji thought, staring at the fluorescent light in his hospital room. Sitting up, he rubbed his eyes, wincing slightly when he touched his right eye. "That's right….the Angel...And I…" he trailed off to nobody. His head ached, but he tried to recall exactly what had happened the evening before. He remembered Sachiel grabbing the Evangelion and its cranium being punctured, but as to what happened afterwards and how he had gotten here… it was hidden behind a fog he couldn't shake.
Shinji disconnected himself from the machines, eliciting a series of alarms at the nurses station, and wandered out into the hallway. He found himself staring out the windows lining the hall. He could see the the large pyramid housing Nerv headquarters adjacent to the lake. It appears to be day time, but he was unsure if the lighting was from the sun or if it was manmade. He found himself thinking about the eva, how the scent inside the entry plug was...familiar. He knew he had smelled something beneath the initial smell of blood.
His daydreaming was broken by a girl on a gurney being wheeled by him. She appeared to be asleep, and her long blue hair was dishevelled. She had a cast on one arm and a bandage over one of her eyes. She's the girl they were going to put into the Eva...I wonder how she got those injuries.
"Glad to see you awake Shinji." Misato said with an almost schoolgirl vigor in her voice. Shinji just about leapt out of his skin.
"Don't sneak up on me like that!" He scowled at her.
Misato giggled, brushing some of her long purple hair out of her face. "You know, hospital gowns don't really suit you. How about you get dressed and we can take a walk down to the housing authority?" Shinji nodded and hurried to get changed. He was happy to be leaving the hospital so soon.
Shinji was staring at the floor as Misato attempted to direct them to the housing authority offices. "So….what happened last night?" He asked, his eyes glued to the floor.
Misato put a finger up to her chin, as if to think about how to word her answer. "You really don't remember? I mean, you were knocked out by the time we had gotten to you, although I assumed it was from exhaustion." She recounted the tale of how Eva Unit 01 went beserk, how it snapped the arms of Sachiel like they were twigs, and finally how Sachiel, in an attempt to take its enemy with it has detonated itself on Unit 01.
"So what exactly is an Eva?" Shinji said, still not making eye contact.
Misato pondered how to answer the question for a moment. "They are the key to saving humanity."
Shinji, not satisfied with the answer probed further, "But...how? And what does my father have to do with all of this?"
Misato shook her head, "You really don't know, do you? Your father runs Nerv. This is his life's work, to defeat the angels...and to protect humanity. Ah, here we are!" Misato opened the door to the housing authority office for Shinji and they both entered.
"You heard me Ritsuko, Shinji is gonna come live with me." Misato said jovially into the phone while twirling some of her hair around her finger. "He was really opposed to it, any idea why?"
Ritsuko sighed on the other side of the phone, "I can only assume he has trouble socially, I mean, he was abandoned by his father and sent to live with a teacher for the past….12 years?"
Misato stole glance at Shinji, who was sitting on the floor listening to his SDAT. "Well he will get plenty of social interaction with me."
Ritsuko replied, "Uh-huh."
"And don't worry, I promise not to make a pass at him or anything." Misato managed to say through her giggling. "How could you ever think that Misato?! He is fourteen!" Misato pulled the phone away from her ear laughing, "Guess she still can't take a joke."
The Renault Alpine bounced along the road, barely able to stay within the confines of its lane. I think I'm going to be sick Shinji thought. "How about dinner to celebrate my new roommate?"
Shinji looked at Misato with a puzzled look on his face, "Do you mean… me?"
She nodded, "Well who else would I mean?"
Shinji looked back at the dashboard, "I don't understand celebrating anything though." Misato stomped on the breaks, partly for dramatic effect, partly because she almost blew through a stop light.
"Shinji, you did great things back there. Now I know it's painful. I do, but you have the support of all of Ner….no, all of the world behind you. Without you to pilot Unit 01… where would we be now?"
Shinji thought for a moment, Where would they be? What do the angels want? Why am I the pilot? He opened his mouth to try to answer, but before he could he was cut off, "You know what? We are going to make a pit stop somewhere, hold on."
The Renault Alpine was parked on a large hill overlooking what should be Tokyo-3. "What are we doing here?" Shinji asked, leaning over the guardrail.
"Hold on...Keep looking….Right….now." Alarms began to sound in the distance, the grounds opened up and buildings began to rise.
"It's like the buildings are growing, Misato….amazing."
Misato beamed, "This is Tokyo-3! A fortress to protect mankind against the threat of the angels. This… this is what you fought to protect, Shinji. There are a lot of people who live here, a lot of people who will need your protection. Now, they won't know that you protect them, we have to keep that a secret. They won't be grateful, they may even be angry with you, but what Nerv does is for the benefit of mankind." Shinji stared, long and hard at Tokyo-3 as people began to come out of the shelters and go about their lives.
Cars began to navigate the streets below them. He looked at Misato and nodded, "Okay, I want to help."
Misato laughed, and slapped him on the back, "That's great, but I don't want you to rush into this decision. It is not one that can be made lightly…" Shinji didn't know why, but Misato made him feel at ease, like he could open up to her. Maybe it was because she treated him like an adult. "Hey, I'm hungry, let's go pick up some food and relax." Misato nodded, and they got into the car and drove away.
Shinji and Misato stood outside the door to their apartment. "Well….why don't you go in? This is your home, too." Misato pointed out.
My home? Shinji pondered on it. "My home, thank you." He said before stepping inside, "I'm home….oh my…"
Misato giggled, scratching the back of her head, "I just moved in myself, I guess it's a little messy." Shinji stared at the piles of empty microwave dinner containers strewn about the mountains of empty beer cans. "I'm going to go take a shower, can you put the food away?" Misato said, already walking into the bathroom. Beer….microwave dinners...Does she have anything healthy? He sighed to himself as he gathered up a handful of garbage bags and began to pick up the trash.
I hope it's not too messy for him here. Misato thought, rinsing the shampoo from her hair. I wonder if he wants to pilot the Eva to get recognition from his father… She squeezed conditioner into her hands and ran them through her hair. I suppose it doesn't matter why Shinji, so long as he pilots. Misato finished washing herself off, wrapped herself in a towel and stepped out into the kitchen. "Wow, good job Shinji. I don't think it's been this clean since I moved in." Misato laughed to herself as she looked around her apartment, bags of trash and empty beer cans sat by the entrance to the apartment, the counters were wiped clean, and water was boiling for tea. Shinji walked into the kitchen from his room, staring at Misato in nothing but a towel, his mouth slightly agape. "Hey, don't get any ideas there kid." Misato said, waving a finger at Shinji, breaking his trance. "Go get in the shower I will prepare dinner." He wordlessly nodded and made his way into the bathroom, as Misato pulled a beer from the fridge and decided on which microwave meal to have.
.
"Mi-mi-misato!" Shinji ran out of the bathroom completely naked. "There's a-a-a thing in the bathroom!" Misato Sipped her beer, staring at Shinji's nakedness.
"A what?" She asked. As if to answer her question, a penguin marched out of the bathroom squawking with each step to his refrigerator. Turning to Shinji, he squawked again before stepping inside. Misato giggled, "Oh him! He's a warm water penguin, his name is PenPen!" She took another swig of beer, "By the way, you should either get in the bath or get dressed." He looked down, embarrassed and ran back into the bathroom.
Shinji found himself staring at the ceiling again. "Misato Katsuragi of Nerv…" He said out loud. She's not bad...kinda nice. A bit of a slob though. He submerged his head underwater, rinsing the shampoo from it. He sat underwater for as long as he could before coming back up. Pilot the Eva? I know I said I would… I should learn more about it though…
"Shinji! Dinner is ready!" He hear Misato call, so he drained the bathtub and dried himself off. Shinji changed into a pair of blue pajama pants and a white t-shirt.
Shinji poked his food with his chopsticks, wondering if it was even edible. "It's really not that bad, once you get used to it!" Misato said in between shoveling the "food" into her mouth and finishing her beer. She eyed Shinji, "We will need to divvy up the chores...and since I pay the rent here, I think it's fair that you do the majority of them."
Shinji looked up from his food, "Okay."
Misato stared at him blankly It was only a joke… "Are you serious about considering joining Nerv? If so, you will have to meet with the commander and vice commander."
Shinji thought on this before replying. The thought of meeting with his father made him almost visibly shudder. They had not spoken for years, but if he wanted to help people he knew what he had to do. "Okay, I will meet with my father."
Vice commander Kozo Fuyutsuki sat across from Gendo Ikari. The light coming into the commander's office seemed to dance and contort along the black floor and walls. "So you are saying that you want your son here?" Fuyutsuki asked, trying to wrap his head around what Gendo had just said.
Gendo nodded, "Yes, I believe that he may be a key piece in this puzzle. He may be the only one who can start Instrumentality."
Fuyutsuki ran a hand through his silver hair, "You know… that you may have to be more of a...father to him"
Gendo grunted in reply, "I will do what is necessary."
The older gentleman nodded, "Send him to me once he is done with you." Fuyutsuki left Gendo at his desk. Gendo sat for what seemed like forever with his eyes closed, Yui… if all goes according to plan… I will be able to see you once again.
Shinji laid in bed, listening to his SDAT, playing the same track over and over. He heard a knock on his door, but did not turn towards it once the door opened. "Shinji. You did a good thing today. A lot of people are still alive thanks to your efforts. Do not forget that. I know that things between you and your father are not ideal, but remember that you mustn't run away," With that Misato gently closed the door to Shinji's room and went to bed herself.
Next day
Shinji Ikari stood in his father's office a large wooden desk was the only thing between them. Gendo motioned for the boy to sit, which Shinji did. Gendo sat as well, placed his elbows on the desk, interlaced his fingers and stared at Shinji. Shinji returned his father's gaze as minutes passed. "It has come to my understanding that you want to join Nerv, is that correct?" Shinji nodded. "You know that once you join, it is not something that you can run away from correct?" Shinji hesitated before nodding again. Gendo straightened himself in his chair, "Now you will receive compensation as an employee of Nerv. Do you have any questions for me?"
Shinji nodded, "Why did you need me exactly?"
Gendo did not expect this question, though his face never showed it. "You were the only one who could pilot Unit 01." Shinji sat silently for a while before Gendo broke the silence, "If you have nothing else to say, you may leave. Vice commander Fuyutsuki is down the hall." Shinji stood without another word and turned to go. He reached the door when Gendo spoke once more, "You did…" He struggled to find the correct word for the situation, "Adequate in dealing with the angel." Gendo never saw the grin creep across Shinji's face as he walked out the door.
Shinji knocked on the door to vice commander Fuyutsukis office. "Please, Shinji, come in." Came a voice from inside. Shinji entered, noticing how different this room was to the one his father occupied. It has solid wooden floors and was dimly lit, there was no desk, only two cushions with a chess board in between them. An older gentleman, judging by his gray hair held out a hand "Vice commander Kozo Fuyutsuki, nice to meet you Shinji Ikari."
Shinji shook his hand before muttering, "You too, sir."
Kozo shook his head, "No need for such formalities right now. Please, call my Kozo. Please sit. Would you like some tea?" Shinji nodded while taking his seat on the floor. Kozo walked up to Shinji, handing him a cup of tea before taking a seat. They sat in silence for a moment before the older gentleman took a Queen's pawn and moved it to d4.
Shinji stared at the pieces for a good minute, thinking whether to accept the queen's gambit Kozo had proposed. "Shinji, do you know who I am?" Kozo asked, staring deeply into Shinji's eyes. Shinji moved uncomfortably in his spot, before moving his pawn to accept the gambit.
"You are Kozo Fuyutsuki Vice comm-" The vice commander held up hand, "While that is true, do you know what I did before this," he waved his hand upwards, "before all of Nerv?" Shinji shook his head. "I taught. I taught many students before Second Impact. I taught at a college. Your mother….she was a student of mine, as was your father was too, of sorts." Shinji stared at the man, longing to hear what more he had to say. Before continuing to speak, Kozo took his move, "Your father's work, is a continuation of your mothers… I bet you didn't know that."
Shinji played his move. "I did not…"
Kozo nodded, taking a piece that Shinji had just moved. "How many pieces do you play chess with Shinji?"
Shinji looked at him quizzically, "16 pieces I think." Kozo ran a hand through his grey hair, shaking his head that Shinji was incorrect. Shinji leaned over the chessboard and began counting the black pieces. "I have 16 pieces…"
Kozo interrupted him, "Yes. But that is not how many pieces you play with." Shinji tilted his head slightly, confused. Kozo continued, "You play with 32 pieces. Each move you make, whether you know it or not invariably affects how the opponent will play subsequent moves, do you follow?"
Shinji nodded, "I think so."
Kozo took a sip of tea, "So with that in mind, the work your father does is like chess. The difference is, he doesnt have only 32 pieces on the board, his has many, many times more. You are a piece now, an important one. Do not forget that." Kozo sighed, "That is not to say that your father doesn't care about you, quite the contrary actually. He just never knows how to express his emotions... " Shinji nodded, realizing it was his turn to play. "Shinji, things will be tough, but you must stick it out. The work your father does is noble, it can change all of humanity for the better." Shinji took his move. Kozo examined the board before looking at Shinji, "You have to get to your first synchronization test. Please remember the words I have said to you."
"Ye-yes sir. I will" Shinji said, standing up.
"We will continue this game next time we have a free moment." Kozo said as Shinji was exiting the room.
My father...cares about me? Shinji thought. It didn't seem to be possible to him. He pondered on everything the vice commander told him as he walked down to the sync test room.
Before he knew it Shinji stood in front of the door to the sync test room. The doors slid open before Shinji had a chance to press the button. Just like when he was in the elevator with Misato, Dr. Ritsuko Akagi stood in front of him. They stared at each other for what seemed like a long time. "You are late, go get changed." She handed him what appeared to be a blue and white diving suit and pointed down the hallway to the changing room.
Shinji put on the suit and wandered back into the test room, "Ummm Dr. Akagi… it doesn't seem to fit." Shinji walked into the room looking like a deflated balloon. Ristuko laughed, being joined in by several members of her team, causing blood to rush to Shinji's cheeks. He tried averting his eyes.
"Look, just press-" Ritsuko approached him, pressing a button on his wrist, causing the suit to compress tightly around his body, "this button."
Shinji looked down in shame, "Oh... I see…" Ritsuko pointed him through some doors and into a room with a pool and six entry plugs. Over the loudspeaker he heard Ristuko say, "Get into the entry plug labeled 01." Shinji swam to it and climbed in, as it filled with LCL he choked slightly on it. Ugh… I don't every think I will get used to that. A picture of Ristuko appeared in front of him as he heard her team talking in the background, "Connecting main power...first stage connection initiated...Commencing secondary contacts. A-10 nerve connections, normal." Ritsuko nodded, looking back at Shinji, "Okay, I am going to need you to just concentrate." Shinji responded, "Okay." "Bidirectional circuits are open… Synchronization rate is at… 62.8%" Ritsuko seemed shocked at hearing that last part. "Okay Shinji. Keep concentrating. This will be over in a few minutes…"
Rei slept soundly on her hospital bed amid the beeps and whirs of the machines that were hooked up to her. Her long hair bad been tied into twin tails before she fell asleep when she had arrived. The door to her room opened and Gendo Ikari walked into the room, causing the motion sensor lights to activate. Rei opened her eyes, rubbing any sleepiness from them. She stared at Gendo, her eyes holding no emotion in them. "How are you feeling Rei?" Gendo asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I feel fine commander." Rei replied, as she did a smile crept over Gendo's face. He took a seat next to her.
" I need you to do something for me." He said, the next part made him feel a little uncomfortable asking her. "I would like you to get closer to the pilot of unit 01." Rei continued to stare at her commander, seemingly seeing through his tinted glasses and into the depths of his soul. She nodded. "He is going to be important to our project soon, as you are. I just need to ensure that he will stay here and put in the effort necessary to bring it to fruition." Rei nodded again. Gendo patted her shoulder, "Good, now get some rest. We will need to continue with the tests soon. We only have 3 more years to prepare for the next angel attack."
With that, Gendo left the room without another word. The machines noises lulled Rei back to sleep.
